“No!” Darlene shouted through the phone. “I don’t want her to have him. She’s wanted everything I’ve ever had and she’s not getting Dustin!”
Rico didn’t know what to think, but the conversation soon escalated into a shouting match until Wyatt put a stop to it.
There was quiet for a brief moment and then the social worker spoke to Darlene. “We have to find a home for Dustin. Your sister is willing...”
“No. She doesn’t even like kids. That’s why she doesn’t have any of her own. She’s mean and cruel. No, I refuse to let her have Dustin.”
“Darlene.” Ms. Henshaw sighed. “Dustin needs a home until you get out of prison.”
“Who’s keeping him now?”
Ms. Henshaw glanced at Rico. “Jericho Johnson.”
“Who? I never heard of him. Is he from Horseshoe?”
Wyatt jumped back into the conversation. “Rico, as everyone calls him, works on Rebel Ranch. He’s part of the Rebel family and he was the one who found Dusty looking for food and brought him to my office. He and Dusty have formed a connection.”
“Is Mr. Johnson there?”
“Yes, ma’am. I’m right here and Dusty is outside the office.”
“I’d like to talk to my son.”
Rico went into the squad room, picked up Dusty and carried him into the sheriff’s office. Anamarie waited for them. “He’s here.”
“Baby, it’s Mommy.”
Dustin’s eyes flew wide. “Mommy, are you coming to get me? Grandma went to be with Jesus.”
There was a long pause on the line and then they heard sniffling. “No, baby, I can’t come right now. I still need more time, but I want to find a nice place for you to stay until I can get there.”
“I can stay with Rico. He got horses and he got toys. I stay with Rico.”
“Okay, baby, I needed to hear your voice. I love you and I’ll see you soon.”
“I love you, too, Mommy.”
Rico took the boy to Anamarie and went back into the office. Connie was in full tirade. “You’ve always been stubborn thinking of yourself instead of others. Think of your son for once.”
“Why do you want my son? You told Mom he should be in foster care.”
“You needed to be taught a lesson, but what was I thinking? You never learn, not even when we were little. You defied Mom and Dad and did exactly what you wanted.”
There was another long pause as they waited for Darlene to speak.
“Yeah, because you tattled on me so many times. Even when we were in school you tattled to teachers and got me in trouble. You ruined my whole school experience with your jealousy. You took a lot of things from me, but you will never take my son.”
Darlene seemed to take a breath, and then asked, “Mr. Johnson?”
Rico leaned against the doorjamb, but at the sound of his name he stood up straight. “Yes, ma’am?”
“Do you live on Rebel Ranch?”
“Yes.”
“I remember how beautiful it was and I wanted to live in that big house with all those handsome cowboys. I want Dusty to be somewhere where he’s happy. He wants to stay with you. Do you think you could keep him until I get out? My lawyer said I could probably get out in three months.”
He saw this coming when Dusty had said he wanted to stay with Rico, but he didn’t really believe Darlene would want him to take the boy. His heart was going to get involved, especially when he would have to give the boy back. So many questions rolled around in his head, but there was only one answer. For him. For Dusty.
“Sheriff,” Darlene called. “Do you vouch for Mr. Johnson?”
“Yes, ma’am, I do. He’s a good man. He was one of the guys who helped get our kids out of the gym when the bombs went off in our school.”
“I remember reading about that. I was just glad my Dustin wasn’t in school yet.”
There was a short pause and then, “Ms. Henshaw, I’d like for Mr. Johnson to take Dusty until I can get him. That is, if he’s willing.”
“You’re so stupid!” Connie shouted to the phone. “You’ve always been stupid!”
Wyatt motioned for Stuart to get the woman out of his office, which he did. As Connie passed Rico, he got a whiff of cigarette smoke. She was a smoker. Even expensive perfume couldn’t disguise that.
Wyatt took his seat. “Okay, Darlene, let’s get this straight. You want Mr. Johnson to take care of Dusty until you can get out of prison.”
“I do, but he never said anything. Dustin gets government assistance and Mr. Johnson can get that.”
Rico cleared his throat. “I’ll keep him, but I don’t want any money.”
“Now I know you’re a good guy.
“The warden is indicating that I need to get off the phone. Take good care of my baby, Mr. Johnson. I trust you and when I get out this time I’m going to stay clean.”
“For Dustin’s sake, I hope you do.”
The line went dead and the three people left in the room stared at each other. Ms. Henshaw was the first to speak. “Mr. Johnson, I’ll be at your home tomorrow morning at nine to see where Dustin will be living. He’s in school for most of the day and I expect you to get him there and pick him up.”
“No problem. But nine o’clock in the morning isn’t going to work. I have to get Dustin to school and go to work. I can meet you about six in the evening.”
“I’ll rearrange my schedule to make sure this little boy is placed where he will be happy and safe.” Ms. Henshaw gathered her briefcase and purse and left the room.
Wyatt glanced at Rico. “You work long hours on the ranch. How are you going to make this work?”
“I know a pretty lady who’s going to help me.” He tried hard not to smile.
“Anamarie. You won’t find anyone nicer than her and I hope it works out for you.”
“Thanks, Wyatt.” He paused for a moment. “What about arrangements for Wendy Miller?”
Wyatt shrugged. “Fred from the funeral home called and the body will be ready tomorrow morning. He’s wondering how he’s going to get his money. I told him he would have first claim after her estate is settled. There won’t be much. The sale of the house will more than pay for her funeral and maybe some left over for Dustin.”
“Maybe it would give Darlene a new start.”
“We can hope. But with the sister in town I don’t know what’s going to happen.” Wyatt waved a hand. “Anyway, that’s another story. I’ll have Stuart go through Mrs. Miller’s papers. Maybe he can find a will and then everything will be simple.”
“Yeah, right.” He heard Wyatt laugh as he left the room.
It was refreshing to see Anamarie’s pretty face, even if she was frowning.
“No, no, no!” Dusty shouted, burying his face in Anamarie’s chest as Connie attempted to talk to him.
“I’m your aunt,” Connie kept on. “I just want to get to know you.”
“Nooo!” Dusty wailed.
“No means no, Ms. Grimes,”